STERLING NOTES
No. 2 Newsletter of the 2011 International Convention Friday, August 12
Thursday Keynote by Nelita True
Making All the Right Connections
On Thursday morning, delegates and guests attended the keynote address for the 54th International Convention. For those who are unaware of the purpose of a keynote address, it is to support the overall theme and set the mood for the rest of the convention. This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Nelita True, a longtime member of the Rochester Alumni Chapter. She had the honor of speaking to the audience about this year’s theme, “Connected.”
At the beginning of her speech, Dr. True stressed the importance of reaching out to as many people as possible through concerts, recitals, and other music-related projects. By doing so, Mu Phis can inform the general public of the impact that music can have on themselves and others. Through musical projects, the trained musician has the opportunity to connect with those who are less informed about the world of music.
To support the idea of reaching out to others through music, and illustrate the impact it can have on them, Dr. True shared the stories of two of her former students. Both are successful musicians who took their musicality and creativity to the next level, using their musical abilities to serve their communities. One, Greg McCallum, started a nonprofit organization called Piano Connections, which has done several interesting projects. (More information at gregmccallum.com)
Dr. True concluded by saying that all the projects were inspired by the desire to make connections with people through music. Stories such as these can provide Mu Phi members with the confidence and motivation to connect with the non-musical world using music as their foundation.
By Marshall Pugh (Alpha Xi)
(Above: Nelita True, center, talks with members after her speech.)
Music Delegate Biography
Linda Chen
(Dr. Chen’s biography was received too late for inclusion in the program book, so we are pleased to publish it here. She performs in the Music Delegates’ Recital on Friday afternoon.)
Linda Chen received the DMA in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory of Music in 2009. She also holds a BM from Eastman School of Music and MM from UMKC. She served as president of Alpha Kappa and was the chapter delegate at the 2008 convention. A performer of both solo and chamber repertoire, Dr. Chen collaborated at the MPE district conference last year with vocal faculty members from several universities, including Ms. Paula Patterson, and is excited to be working with her again. A long-time native of Overland Park, KS, she has taught privately there for over ten years.
International Competition Winner Dazzles in Recital
When pianist Yukiko Sekino took the stage for her International Competition winner’s recital on Thursday evening, her modest, low-key entrance gave no hint of the dazzling performance to follow. But the first notes of her opening piece, Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G# minor from Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, let the audience know we were in for a treat. From exquisitely nuanced Bach, through the fiery flow of Beethoven’s “Waldstein” sonata, to the jazzy, technically demanding contemporary work A Gliss is Just a Gliss, Sekino’s control was impeccable and her playing passionate.
Although her focus was intimately concentrated on her instrument – with which it seemed she became as one – she engaged the audience through the sheer joy of her playing. In fact, it seemed that the faster and more difficult a passage, the more fun she was having, as in the last programmed piece, a virtuoso spectacular by Liszt. It was almost, dare we say, as if Sekino were making love to the piano, and the audience got to watch.
Chapters should be rushing to book Sekino for an appearance, to bring this great talent and representative of Mu Phi Epsilon to your own communities. See booking manager Beverly Abegg or visit mpefoundation.org for more information.
By Melissa Eddy, International Editor
Program Book Correction
On page 43, “Meet ACME Honorees,” the photos of Lenora Ford Brown and Gaye England should be reversed.
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